Chapter 31: Scars

The hooded man was talking to him, but he didn't understand. He was in too much pain, and his own screams of pain filled the room, drowning out any other sound. His mind tried to forget the balls of blue ointment consuming his skin and flesh inside his arm and between his ribs. He arched his back, ruched, pulled at the chains that held his arms above his head and kept his legs against the table on which he lay, without success. He had broken his shoulders trying to escape, his vocal cords tore and his screams died in his throat, but not the excruciating pain he felt. He prayed that his tormentor would shorten his torture, but when the man withdrew the substance that had devoured his flesh, the pain didn't stop, it only lessened. It persisted, long after the man had left, long after he had returned and cleaned the wounds. He measured them, studied them, for several days, without ever releasing Jasper.

The vampire returned to the present when the wizards had finished extracting his memory.

"A break." he breathed in a weak voice, but he knew Carlisle had heard him.

It wasn't long before the man he considered his father was at his side. He felt him place a hand on the back of his neck and place a bottle full of blood against his lips. He let his head fall back into Carlisle's hand and drank the blood greedily. The liquid helped him regain a semblance of control; he really was on the verge of giving way to the Major. This memory was among the worst he had, he could still feel that excruciating pain and the handcuffs holding him to the armrests of the chair only brought him back there even more. He let his head fall on Carlisle's shoulder, breathing in his scent to remind himself that he was out of this hell, that his bonds were only there to protect him from himself, that he wouldn't be tortured again. In the two days he'd been testifying, he'd managed to maintain his control by taking regular breaks, going uncuffed to an adjoining patio for fresh air and drinking blood at regular intervals.

It was many minutes before he felt better and whispered this to Carlisle. Carlisle moved away and Jasper turned his gaze to the aurors. There were only two of them, as they were taking turns to sleep for a few hours. They had relaxed over the hours, ceasing to regard the empath as a threat, even if they never quite let their guard down, especially when they released him.

Neither Percy, Kangae nor O'Murray had slept since his testimony began, and it showed on their faces. All three were exhausted, but had their hearts set on being there throughout this interview, to make sure it went as smoothly as possible.

"I'd like to get some fresh air," he declared in a calm voice.

The aurors exchanged glances with Carlisle, who nodded, then one of them flicked his wand and the metal bracelets opened to free Jasper. As always, his father put a hand on his back and they walked to the patio accompanied by Percy. The young man sat down in a corner and closed his eyes. The vampires knew that O'Murray and Kangae were doing the same inside, while keeping a close eye on the exchanges, and Carlisle was also keeping an ear on what was going on inside. As for Jasper, he stood where he could feel the most wind on his skin. This sensation, which he had been deprived of for eighteen years, soothed him. He concentrated for twenty minutes on the caress of the wind on his skin, on the freshness of winter, and emptied his mind, yet his hand came to brush this area of his body marked forever. Vampires were known to be able to repair any damage done to their bodies unless it was burnt, but this man had found a way to belie that truth, to destroy their flesh with no hope of healing. Jasper kept six sensitive indentations in his skin, six indelible reminders of what he'd been through.

He didn't realize what he was doing until he felt eyes on him. He opened his eyes to find the two aurors watching him more than usual. The two men beckoned him inside, which he did with a sigh, followed by Carlisle, who woke Percy up before joining him.

"Do you have any marks from whatever they did to you?" asked one of the two.

"Yes, I do."

"Can we take some photos?"

"'Mr Hale, you can say no, ask for these photos to be taken by a medicomage or in a smaller committee," intervened his lawyer.

"Thanks, I'll be fine," replied Jasper, unbuttoning his shirt.

He wasn't ashamed of his body or his scars, but the rage he felt coming from Carlisle when he removed the cloth and his father could see the scars almost stopped him in his tracks. However, he placed the cloth on a chair and spread his left arm so that everyone could see the six round marks. He had three between his ribs and three on the inside of his arm. Each was two centimeters deep and covered with very thin skin that seemed lighter and more fragile than on the rest of his body. Jasper repressed his memories as one of the aurors approached him to take photographs. He remained more motionless than a statue, concentrating on his vampire to keep him under control while praying that the auror wouldn't touch those marks, aware that contact would send him over the edge.

"Do you have any other marks from what they did to you?"

Jasper turned his darker gaze than it should have been after drinking so much blood toward Williamson and his colleague, who had just returned to the room. Both aurors were horrified by his marks and angry to imagine where they came from. The vampire nodded and removed his pants before sitting down in his boxer shorts, legs spread. He knew Carlisle had spotted the slightly lighter lines on the inside of his legs by the pain he felt coming from him, whereas it took the wizards longer. One approached him to take pictures as Williamson spoke again.

"Have you given us the memories of this event?"

Jasper winced at the word used, the torture he'd undergone wasn't an event, but from the man's discomfort, he understood that he'd used that word for want of a more appropriate one.

"You haven't shown me this man," he replied.

"But," Carlisle interjected, "I believe Mr. Weasley had found some information in a notebook about poisoned knives."

Percy began searching through his papers while Jasper put his clothes back on and sat back down to give the memories associated with that moment. The cuffs closed on his wrists, but he stopped the wizard from casting the spell.

"Do you want only the memories that concern this man, or the others too?"

"How many people are you talking about?"

"Ten in addition to him, including a woman and a former minister I think."

All the wizards looked at him shocked, both at the number announced and at the involvement of a minister. There had only been five of them since Jasper's abduction, Kingsley Shacklebolt included.

"One at a time, in chronological order if possible," replied Williamson.

"In that case, the one with the knives will be last."

"Noted."

Jasper prepared to be drawn back into his memories, except this time he was the one who decided what he showed. This didn't make it any easier for him, however, and required many breaks. By the time he had finished showing the memory corresponding to the notes Percy had found during his research in the Ministry and retrieved from among his files, the winter sun was setting and everyone, including the vampire, was exhausted. The aurors were discussing among themselves, without ever naming them, the ten people added to their list, while Carlisle, Jasper and O'Murray were chatting on the patio.

The lawyer gave them his first impressions of Jasper's statements and told them to be prepared for a media storm, that his testimonies would affect public figures of varying reputations. The empath listened with one ear only, longing to leave and see Harry, and the calm and reassurance of no longer being surrounded by so many people. Carlisle was very involved in the discussion, but he couldn't ask more about the consequences of this media storm, as Percy invited them to join them. Williamson told the vampires that he would bring them back and that they would be kept informed of the progress of the investigation by their lawyer, Percy Weasley or himself. Relieved, Jasper let him put the handcuffs back on and took hold of the inkwell presented to them.